From a previous walk for peace or padayatra.

Hastings to Brighton walk for peace

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna movement worldwide, the monks based in central London are this week making a pilgrimage in the form of a walk for peace from Hastings to Brighton. The walk began on bank holiday Monday in Hastings and is due to reach its destination at Brighton pier on Friday 3 June. Natasha Menon from the ISKCON temple in London explains the reasons for the pilgrimage.

On the streets of London, the adherents of the Hare Krishna movement are famous for their brightly coloured robes, singing in the streets, mass free distribution of delicious food and transcendental books. Most famous for their happy spirit, they are an integral part of Oxford Street.

What is less known about them is the fact that they follow an ancient culture and philosophy going back thousands of years. They follow strict principles of spiritual practice which includes vegetarianism and abstinence from intoxication.

The Walk for Peace, known as ‘Padayatra’ in Sanskrit, literally means to go by foot. Traditionally performed with oxcart, pilgrims would walk from place to place as a kind of mobile temple, bringing with them an atmosphere of festive fun, peace, understanding, goodwill and love for all.

A core team of eight-10 self-sufficient persons is participating in the walk from Hastings to Brighton. They are walking with a bullock cart pulled by a pair of bullocks from our cow protection farm project in Watford. We have performed this Padayatra all over the UK and two members of our team were organisers of a Padayatra who walked from Ireland to Russia over a six-year period!

Hastings-Brighton presents good conditions for the walk. Between Hastings and Eastbourne the land is mostly flat, and from there to Brighton the winding and gently sloping hills will not present any problem for the bullocks. And the weather at this time of year is usually very mild!

Through this Walk for Peace we would like to remind people who see us that in these fearful days of war, climate change, social tensions and economic uncertainty, a simple self-sufficient life in harmony with Mother Nature and God’s will is always available as an alternative.

If you are in the local area we invite you to join us!

Itinerary

Mon 30 May: Rock-a-Nore car park, Hastings, to Normans Bay Camping and Caravanning Clubsite, Pevensey

Tuesday 31 May: Normans Bay to Bay View Park, Pevensey

Wednesday 1 June: Bay View Park via Eastbourne promenade and Beachy Head to the National Trust site at Birling Gap

Thursday 2 June: Birling Gap to Buckle Caravan Park, Seaford

Friday 3 June: Buckle Caravan Park via Newhaven and Peacehaven to Brighton pier.

For more information, or to join up with the walk, call the walk leader Dayal Mora dasa on 07429 520 615.

Also in: Home Ground